Container closure



June 15, i936 R, B. BUKOLT CONTAINER CLOSURE Filed Aug. l, 1954 2SheetsSheet 1 Elf-1.3m.,

une 316, 1936. R. B. BUKoLT CONTAINER CLOSURE 2 'sheets-sheet 2 Filed Aug. l, 1934 El. [Inh Efe-QE..

wif/tum@ instrumentality of a Patented June 16, 1936 met' A'E'E @FFEQE CONTAINER oLosURE Roman B. Bukolt,

Stevens Point, Wis.

Application August 1, 1934, Serial No. 737,987

11 Claims.

The invention relates to container closures of the general type disclosed in my pending U. S. application Serial No. 719,961, led April 10, 1934, in which a closure is held sealed through the lever-and-toggle-action snap disk. Y

It is the object of the invention to provide a rather inexpensive and highly efficient structure which Vmay be advantageously manufactured for relatively large containers such as kegs, drums, barrels, etc., novel provision being made whereby the snap disk may be removed when it is snapped to released position, allowing access to be had to the interior of the container for removing its contents. j

`The snap disk is provided with a central opening through which a tool must be inserted in order to snap said disk to released position, and a furtherA object is to provide a unique seal for this opening so that the seal must' be broken before the container is opened. `It is thus insured that if the seal be intact, the contents have not been tampered with. SWith the foregoing in View, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description-being accomplished by referenceY to theaccompanying drawings ".12 l

'Fig'. 1 is a` top planview partly broken away showing .a 'closure for a wooden keg, barrel or the Y.

like."

VFig.f2 is avertical sectional view on line A2--2V ofFig. 1.' f- 1 "Fig. 3 isla fragmentary top plan view showing Yone form of closure for use on a metal container. i Y

Fig. 4 is a sectional viewV on line 4--4 of Fig. '3. Figs. 5 and 6 are views similar to Fig. 4 but illustratingdiierent forms of construction.

fIn'Figs. 1 and 2, the head 'I of a barrel or keg or any other wall of some other type of wooden container, is Vformed with an opening 3 having an annular outwardly facing seat- 9 for a sealing ringr I0. -The outer end II ofthe opening is somewhat enlarged to provide space to receive the peripheral portion of the lever-and-toggleactionsnap disk I2. A ilat metal rim I3 is Ysecured by rivets or the like I4 upon the wall 'I, the inner ends of said rivets or the like being countersunk and covered with a suitable compound I5 to prevent them from contacting with the container contents. The inner edge 4of the rim I3 is provided with circumferentially spaced with fulcrum lugs I'I which normally abut the inner sides of the rim lugs I6. By turning the snap disk I2 when it is sprung outwardly-to released position however, the fulcruni lugs I'I may pass between the rim lugs It allowing easy removal of the snap disk. The closure I8 which occupies the opening 8 and rests upon the sealing ring IIJ may then also be removed togive access to the interior of the container.

The closure I8 is preferably of wood and it is provided with a pivoting bead. I9 which contacts with the disk I2 near the peripheral edge of the latter. At its center, the disk closure is provided with a depression 2E! having a metal wearplate 2| on its bottom. This depression and wearplate are directly below a central opening 22 in the snap disk I2. A suitable tool must be inserted through opening 22 to pry the disk I2 outwardly to releasedL position, and the wear-plate 2l prevents the tool from injuring the closure I9.

. A thin metallic seal 23 is provided for thev opening 22, said seal being cupped as shown and being flanged at 24 and 25 to abut opposite sides of the snap disk I2. The seal cannot be removed and the closure opened without detection `and hence constitutes an effective means to prevent undetected tampering with the container contents. v

When the container is to be sealed, the closure I8 and sealing ring I0 are placed in the opening 8 as shown in Fig. 2, the snap disk I 2 which then occupies an outwardly sprung Vor snapped position, is inserted by guiding its lugs I7 between the rim lugs I6, and said disk is then turned so that said lugs II underlie said lugs I6, A suitable stop 26 may be provided to limit the extent of turning of the disk I2 both when applying it and when later removing it. The disk having been properly positioned, it is snapped inwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2, so that it fulcrums upon its lugs I 'I and exerts.` a strong inward force against the bead I8, compressing the sealing ring Il) and tightly sealing thecontainer.

To open the container, the seal 23 is cut and removed and a suitable prying tool is inserted through the opening 22 so that said tool may act upon the disk I2 and react upon the wear-plate 2I to effect outward snapping of said disk to released position. When in this position, the disk I2 may be readily turned. to the necessary extent and removed, whereupon the cover I3 may be removed. This cover may be provided with a plate or the like 2'I projecting partially over the depression 20 to facilitate removal of said cover.

The stop 26 may `well be in the form of an L- shaped pin inset in the wall 1 and held in place by the rim I3.

In the forms of construction shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6, I provide metallic rim means 28 around the container opening to form an annular channel whosev open side is toward the center of said opening, said channel having an outer side flange 29 and a wider inner side flange 30. A sealing ring 3| rests upon the flange 3D which constitutes an outwardly facing seat for said sealing ring, a closure 32 of metal rests upon said sealing ring, and a snap disk 33 is provided to inwardly force said closure and` tightly compress the sealing ring.

The outer side flange 29 of the channeled rim 28 is formed with circumferentially spaced notches 34 and the peripheral edge of the snap disk 33 is provided with similarly spaced lugs 35. When the disk 33 is in outwardly snapped released position, it may be turned so that its lugs 35 may pass through the notches 34, allowing the disk to be easily inserted or removed, and a suitable stop 36 may be provided to limit the extent of turning of said disk.

After positioning the sealing ring 3| and the cover 32, and inserting and turning the snap disk 33 with the latter in outwardly sprung released position, said snap disk is snapped inwardly to the position shown in full lines in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. As the disk moves to this position, it fulcrums upon its lugs 35 and it presses inwardly upon the pivoting bead 31 of the closure 32 so that the sealing ring 3| is compressed and the closure tightly sealed.

The disk 33 is provided with a central seal 38 which must be broken before it can be sprung outwardly to released position. When this seal is broken however, and a tool inserted to outwardly snap the disk 33, this disk may be turned lsuiiiciently to allow it to be disengaged from the rim 28. Then, the cover 32 may be easily removed. This cover may be provided with a button or the like 39 to facilitate removal.

While the structures shown in Figs. 3 to 6 possess the features in common so far described, their structural details are somewhat different as will now be explained.

In the structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the' flanges 29 and 30 are integral with a side wall 40 for the channeled rim 28, said wall 40 being'welded at 4l to the container head or wall 42.

In Fig. 5, the side wall 43 of the channeled rim 28 is integral with the ange 3|] and is provided with an outwardly projecting flange 44 lying upon the container head or wall 45. The flange 29 is formed by the inner edge portion of a flat ring 46 lying upon the flange 44, and rivets 41 pass through the parts 44, 45, 46, and 41 to secure them together.

In Fig. 6, the flange 30 is carried by a depressed portion 4B of the container head or wall 49, and the flange 29 is formed by an upwardly pressed portion 50 of a ring 5l which is secured upon the part 49 by rivets 52.

Excellent results are obtainable from the structures shown and they may therefore be followed. However, within the Vscope of the invention as claimed, numerous variations may be made. While a separate closure is shown in all views, the snap disk itself might well constitute th closure.

1. A container having an outwardly facing sealing ring seat, a sealing ring engaging said seat, a snap disk at the outer side of said sealing ring for exerting an inward force to seat said sealing ring, a fulcrum rim iixedly carried by the container and disposed at the peripheral edge of said snap disk, and means releasable by turning of said snap disk for detachably connecting said snap disk with said rim, said turning being permitted by outward snapping of said snap-disk, said snapdisk having a portion for use in outwardly snapping it.

2. A container having an outwardly facing sealing ring seat, a sealing ring engaging said seat, a snap disk for exerting an inward force to seat said sealing ring, and a fixed fulcrum rim for the edge of said snap disk, said disk and rim having normally engaged lugs disengageable by turning of said disk, allowing removal of said disk, said turning being permitted by outward snapping of said snap-disk, said snap-disk having a portion for use in outwardly snapping it.

3. A container having an outwardly facing sealing ring seat, a sealing ring engaging said seat, a rim xedly carried by the container and having inwardly projecting.circumferentially spaced lugs spaced outwardly from the outer side of said sealing ring, and a vsnap disk for exerting an inward force to seat said sealing ring, said snap disk having fulcrum lugs lying against the inner sides of said dum lugs, said fulcrum lugs being engageable from said rim lugs by turning said snap disk, allowing removal of said snap disk, said turning being permitted by outward snapping of said snap-disk, said snap-disk having a porti-on for use in outwardly snapping it.

4. A container having an outwardly facing seat, a closure engaging said seat, a snap disk for holding said closure engaged with said seat, a fixed fulcrum rim for the edge of said snap disk, and means releasable by turning of said snap disk for detachably connecting said disk with said rim, said turning being permitted by outward snapping of said disk, said disk having a portion for use in outwardly snapping it, the diameter of said closure being less than the internal diameter of said rim, allowing removal of the closure when said snap disk is removed.

5. A container having an outwardly facing seat, a closure engaging said seat, a snap disk for holding said closure engaged with said seat, and a fulcrum rim for the edge of said snap disk, said rim and disk having normally engaged lugs disengageable by turning of said disk, said turning being permitted by outward snapping of said disk, said disk having a portion for use in outwardlyfsnapping it, the diameter of said closure being less than the internal diameter of said rim, allowing removal of the closure lwhen said snap disk is removed.

6. A container having an outwardly facing seat, a closure engaging said seat, a rim xedly carried by the container and having inwardly projecting circumferentially spaced lugs spaced outwardly from the outer side of said closure, and a snap disk for exerting an inward force to seat said closure, said snap disk having fulcrum lugs lying against the inner sides of said rim lugs, said fulcrum lugs being disengageable from said rim lugs by turning said snap disk, said turning being permitted by outward snapping of said disk, said disk having a portion for use in outwardly snapping'it, allowing removal of said snap disk, the diameter of said closure being less than the internal diameter of said rim allowing removal of said closure when said snap disk has been removed.

7. A container wall having an opening and a closure seated in and outwardly removable from said opening, a at rim secured against the outer side of said wall around said opening, said rim having inwardly projecting crcumferentially spaced lugs, and a snap disk for holding said closure against removal, said snap disk having fulcrum lugs lying against the inner sides of said rim lugs, said fulcrum lugs being disengageable from said rim lugs by turning said snap disk, said turning being permitted by outward snapping of said disk, said disk having a portion for use in outwardly snapping it, allowing removal of said snap disk and said closure.

8. A closure having an opening and rigid means around said opening providing an annular channel whose open side is disposed toward the axis of said opening, said channel having innerand outer side ilanges, said outer flange having circumferentially spaced notches, a sealing ring within said channel lying against said inner flange, and a snap disk Whose peripheral portion is received in said channel between said sealing ring and said outer ange, said snap disk having fulcrum lugs engaging the inner side of said outer ange and of a width to pass through said notches when said snap disk is suciently turned, said turning being permitted by outward snapping of said snap-disk, said snap-disk having a portion for use in outwardly snapping it.

9. A closure having an opening and rigid means around said opening providing an annular channel whose open side is disposed toward the axis of said opening, said channel having inner and outer side flanges, said outer ange having circumferentially spaced notches, a sealing ring within said channel lying against said inner ange, a closure lying against the outer side of said sealing ring, and a snap disk engaging the outer side of said closure and having lugs engaging the inner side of said outer ilange, said lugs being of a size for passage through said notches when said snap disk is sumciently turned, said turning being permitted by outward snapping of said disk, said disk having a portion for use in outwardly snapping it, the diameter of said closure being less than the internal diameter of said outer flange to allow removal of said closure after removal of said snap disk.

10. A substantially concavo-convex gasketcompressing lever-and-toggle-actlon snap-disk having short radial circumferentially spaced lugs to engage under corresponding lugs on a container when the disk is inserted, turned and snapped inwardly, said disk having a portion for use in snapping it outwardly to allow turning to released position.

11. A substantially concavo-convex gasketcompressing lever-and-toggle-action snap-disk having short radial circumferentially spaced lugs to engage under corresponding lugs on a container when the disk is inserted, turned and snapped inwardly, said disk having a portion sufficiently soft to permit puncturing thereof when the disk is to be outwardly snapped and turned to released position.

ROMAN B. BUKOLT. 

